In April, Cherokee Sheriff’s deputies took a report in which a white male, later identified as Samuel Mark Ellis, 58 years old of Dawsonville, scammed an Acworth woman out of $345.00. At one time Ellis legitimately installed stair lift chairs in homes all over the metro area.

Ellis had installed a lift chair in this Acworth home approximately 5 years earlier. When Ellis contacted the victim concerning a recall with her chair and that Ellis would be conducting the work, she wasn’t concerned at all. Ellis arrived, claimed to have replaced the part, charged the victim $345.00, and advised her the manufacturer would reimburse her for the repairs.

The homeowner quickly learned that the entire incident was a hoax and she had been scammed. She reported the incident. Fortunately, detectives were able to locate and arrest Ellis in Gwinnett County.

Ellis was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on May 20th charged with Exploitation and Intimidation and Theft by Deception. He remains in custody and his bond is set at $12,245.

Information discovered during this investigation reveals a high potential for additional victims in the metro Atlanta area, specifically in Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. If Samuel Ellis has contacted you in recent months about a recall on your lift chair please call Cherokee County District Attorney Investigator Bert Love at 678-493-6318.